WASHINGTON (BP) -- Three small churches damaged in Hurricane Harvey's unprecedented Texas deluge are jointly suing a U.S. government agency for access to public recovery funds.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) religiously discriminates against churches by preventing them from seeking disaster recovery funding available to other nonprofits, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty alleges in the suit filed Sept. 5 in Houston federal court. Read More

NEW YORK (BP) -- Edith Windsor, a homosexual rights activist whose lawsuit prompted the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), died Sept. 12 in New York. She was 88.

The Supreme Court's 2013 ruling in U.S. v. Windsor granted states the ability to legalize same-sex marriage and paved the way for nationwide legalization of the practice two years later in Obergefell v. Hodges. An NPR obituary called Windsor, whose cause of death has not been announced, "an octogenarian rock star in the gay rights community." Read More

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (BP) -- Anthony L. Jordan, who has served as executive director-treasurer of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma since April 1996, announced Tuesday (Sept. 12) his plans to retire next year.

Jordan's nearly 22-year tenure stands as the longest of any to hold that role in Oklahoma. He announced his decision to retire during the BGCO Board of Directors meeting.

"This has been the journey of a lifetime," Jordan shared in his remarks to the board. Read More

This Bible study is designed to bring a deep understanding of the text, theology and application of the Lord's Prayer. It is a follow-up to the SBC's 2017 annual meeting, themed "Pray! For Such a Time as This."

"Nothing is more vital to the advancement of the Gospel than rallying God's people to pray," said Gaines, who served as general editor of the study. "Prayer changes everything. ... Read More

This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups. Read More

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